I’m confused why you are applying to schools like Texas A&M or Rutgers if you live in CT. You cannot afford them (or get in).
UCONN is a high match - not easy to get into and engineering, if they admit by major, will be tougher.
As @thumper1 noted - you can do MechE and get an aero job…not an issue.
I have a feeling you’d be branched at UCONN - but try and see.
How about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Central Connecticut State University? You could live at home or on campus and it would be within your stated budget of $35K.
I think this major could be a good fit for you.
University of Hartford has both mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering. I think you would get accepted…not sure if it would end up being affordable. But the University does try to attract instate students.
UHA is ABET for MechE but not aero…which is fine (MechE).
Another thought. You could start at one of the community colleges in CT. And then complete your bachelors at one of the four year colleges. If you decide to consider this option, I would suggest you talk to a transfer advisor at the community college about this. Find out where they have articulation agreements…and what courses you would be able to take there to fulfill your degree requirements.
This IS a possibility and might work for you.
Even though aerospace is your primary area of interest with respect to engineering, I would not poo-poo the idea of mechanical engineering. That’s the field that many engineerings at NASA have their degree in…mechanical engineering, not aerospace engineering. Plus it gives additional flexibility further down the road and provides additional options of colleges NOW.
If you do want to insist on ABET-accredited aerospace engineering, these are the schools where I think you’d have a respectable chance of getting in, though admission (or at least admission to engineering) is far from assured.
I am not from Connecticut, but from what I’ve read, you’re far from assured a spot at UConn-Storrs (ditto for UMass engineering). Apply to them, certainly, but they’re not safeties. Throw an app to Central Connecticut State, as that should be a safety for you. You can also look at some of the Connecticut privates, as they may give you enough in scholarship money to bring the costs close to UConn:
You might want to take a look at U. at Buffalo, one of the SUNY schools the NY governor designated as a flagship. It’s ABET-accredited for aerospace engineering and, if you’re accepted, I think you’d pay the same tuition as you would if you were at the Storrs campus.
If you’re extremely confident you would go into a STEM field (which, from your description, I’m not that confident of), you may want to take a look at Clarkson, which is also ABET-accredited for aerospace, and a smaller more intimate environment (with smaller classes) may be beneficial for you, depending on what caused some of your earlier difficulties in school.
Fairleigh Dickinson (NJ) might be a good school to consider as it offer a full slate of both engineering and engineering technology degrees, so if you found that straight engineering was not your preference, you could still stay at the same institution and do engineering technology. On a similar note, if you’re convinced you’re heading in a STEM direction, SUNY Polytechnic would have that same advantage as would New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Other schools that you might want to consider include:
This is a problem then. Have you been tested for things like Adhd or any LD issues? Not doing well in math /science and AP speed is too hard just worries me. I want you to succeed. The best students find engineering tough. Talk to your teachers and counselors for recommendations of schools.
Kent State also has a unique program that could be a good fit for you. It is the only ABET-accredited aero engineering technology program other than Purdue.
https://catalog.kent.edu/colleges/ar/aeronautical-systems-engineering-technology-bs/
The difference between traditional “engineering” vs “engineering technology” degrees is that the traditional engineering degree has tons of core courses in math and physics etc. Yes, there is some hands-on, but there is tons of desk work. An “engineering technology” degree is much more hands-on and is focused more on applied engineering. Thus, I think an engineering technology degree is a better fit for you.
Here is the list of schools offering ABET-accredited mechanical engineering technology degrees:
Alfred State College
Bluefield State University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Michigan University
Central Washington University
Cleveland State University
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Colorado Mesa University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Washington University
ECPI University
Fairleigh Dickinson University (Metropolitan Campus)
Fairmont State University
Farmingdale State College
Ferris State University
Indiana State University
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Kansas State University – Salina
Kennesaw State University
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Michigan Technological University
Missouri State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
New England Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Mexico State University
New York City College of Technology
Northern Michigan University
Oklahoma State University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Oregon Institute of Technology
Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College
Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, The Capital College
Pittsburg State University
Purdue University at West Lafayette
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Purdue University Northwest
Rochester Institute of Technology
South Carolina State University
SUNY Buffalo State University
State University of New York College of Technology at Canton
State University of New York, Polytechnic Institute
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
The University of Akron
The University of Akron - College of Applied Science and Technology
The University of Toledo
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Cincinnati
University of Dayton
University of Houston
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Maine
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Texas
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Virginia State University
Wayne State University
Weber State University
Youngstown State University
University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University both have mechanical engineering, which aerospace engineering is often similar to. Both offer aerospace electives for mechanical engineering majors. Both should make your budget of $35k per year as a Connecticut resident.
You may also want to check if Connecticut community colleges are suitable (in terms of course offerings) for preparing to transfer to UConn or CCSU as an engineering major.
ABET accreditation does require that engineering bachelor’s degree programs include some general education course work, though this varies from one school to another.
Whether Aero Tech or Aero engineering I would look at U of Cincinnati and for Aero Tech U of Toledo. Both require coop experiences which you are paid for. If you are frugal you can earn enough to supplement your funds to pay for college. I also think they are both universities that would be more likely to accept you with your GPA and SAT and will be more affordable OOS than many other schools. University of Akron or Kent State might be worth looking into as well. I believe NASA has a facility in Cleveland. Check into Eng. Tech. It’s typically more hands on work and doesn’t require the level of math and physics that an engineering degree would. Now is a good time to talk to people in both fields. If you go either route but especially engineering be prepared to work hard, stay focused and study more than you thought you ever would. Good luck.
I fully agree with what multiple people above have already said:
You do NOT have to major in aerospace engineering to work in aerospace engineering. MANY engineers working in aerospace majored in Mechanical Engineering. You can learn the “aerospace” part by taking aerospace-focused classes your junior and senior year and/or doing an internship in aerospace. Majoring in mechanical engineering can actually be better than aerospace engineering because there are more job opportunities in more locations. For example sometimes the aerospace industry has downturns, and then finding a job is very difficult, so having a more flexible degree is an advantage.
The supposed prestige of the school should NOT be your goal. You actually should not want to go to a school where your stats are way lower than the average. Having lower than average stats compared to your classmates will make it more likely that you will have trouble keeping up and will have to drop out of engineering. Besides, “prestige” is just not something most engineering firms care much about. To have a good solid career as a working engineer, ABET accredited is what you need, not a supposedly fancy name.
Do not go into debt to get your engineering degree when there are much more economical schools that are also ABET accredited.
I strongly agree with the idea of checking out degrees in Engineering Technology, whether Mechanical Engineering Technology or Aerospace Engineering Technology. As others have said, Engineering Technology degrees have less advanced math and more hands-on engineering. I have a family member who works for a big name engineering company, and this company hires BOTH mechanical engineering majors and mechanical engineering technology majors in the role of engineers. It is true that for the very top leadership engineering jobs, they require a mechanical engineering (not mechanical engineering technology) degree. But for the vast majority of solid working engineer jobs, either degree will do. It you were my kid, I would advise you to really check out schools that have BOTH majors (mechanical engineering AND mechanical engineering technology.) That way you can start in mechanical engineering, and it you struggle too much with the advanced math, you can switch into mechanical engineering technology and still have many great jobs available to you. Whichever one you end up choosing, make sure they are ABET accredited (ABET accredits both engineering and engineering technology degrees.)
Best of luck!
Extra info:
-Indian🇮🇳 female
-700 Math 630 English for superscore
-700 Math 600 English highest total score
OK so thank u for the responses but im focused on a college that I have a good chance at getting into, right now I’m @
Virginia Tech, Purdue, NC State - Low reach
Rutgers, UCF, Texas A & M - Target
University of Arizona, Embry Riddle - Safety
I might apply to UConn and UMass for computer science but I don’t have much experience in programming/software
I’m aware engineering is still competitive so the acceptance rates are lower than the colleges listed in general. I’m what they call a “generalist” so I have no specific field that I’m great at, just a decent knowledge in all courses (except for music/athletics which I’m trash at)
All of these are ABET credited and please ignore the cost stuff I said
No CCSU and UConn?
CCSU and UConn maybe but I’m looking to go out of state to somewhere warmer. Another major issue is that my college essay was specifically about aerospace engineering which UConn doesn’t have so my essay is practically useless there
If you are out or state, I think your target schools are reaches for an out of applicant wanting engineering. Your math and science grades are going to be scrutinized.
I would take a closer look at the list of schools that @austennut and @coldwombat provided yesterday.
Do u think I should choose another major? The list was only for ABET aero credited schools. I did hear that Texas A & M engineering is super competitive for out state students but Rutgers and UCF are less selective. I’m only looking for densley populated areas in the southwest, or east coast (with the exception of Purdue)
If you are interested in engineering, you should find a school from the lists provided yesterday where you could be admitted. IMO, that’s more important than the name of the school on your diploma.
Your low reaches are high reaches.
Your targets are reaches.
Your safeties…are not that. For U. of Arizona:
Evaluation Criteria
The University of Arizona and the College of Engineering perform a comprehensive review of students applying for admission. In particular, the following will be considered:
- Core GPA as defined by the Arizona Board of Regents (minimum 3.0 required for College of Engineering)
- Math and science completion/grades
- Senior year coursework
- Rigor of high school classes (AP, IB, honors, etc.)
- Optional standardized test score (ACT or SAT)
- Optional personal statement
Your math & science grades are the second item listed in consideration for engineering at Arizona. I don’t know how competitive entrance to engineering is, but I definitely would not call this a safety.
CCSU is the only school you’ve mentioned applying to that I think would be a safety.
Right now you need to focus on schools where you have a good chance of being admitted and where you are likely to do well.
UCONN has Mechanical Engineering with and Aerospace concentration, and that’s pretty much what most Aero Engineering programs are. You should definitely apply there.
You can’t “ignore” cost - but ok, we will for now.
A&M is a reach - and Rutgers might be.
CS and aero / mech engineering are vastly different.
You should pursue what interests you…not something that doesn’t. This is your life, your future - you don’t try to fit into a box.
U of Arizona is a FANTASTIC school so don’t let the labels scare you - and ERAU is obviously all about Aero.
There are other great schools - UAH (south, in city, surrounded by space organizations and with the scholarship you asked for), Wichita State (OK, it’s midwest) - many options in urban-ish areas.
I do agree with others - unless you’ll be able to master Calc and then advance many levels, the Engineering Tech degree might be a better fit.
Good luck.